YCTC In the News

Article Archives

2.21.13 - YCTC Seeks a New Home

2.21.13 - Aladdin

11.29.12 - A Christmas to Remember

9.6.12 - Bedbugs

7.11.12 - The Little Mermaid

3.2.12 - No Strings Attached

11.17.11 - The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

8.25.11 - Gooney Bird Greene & Her Fabulous Animal Parade

6.30.11 - On the Other Side of the Fence

3.3.2011 - Jungle Book

12.9.2011 - Goldilocks & the Christmas Bears

9.9.2010 - The Berenstain Bears

8.30.2010 - 2010 Riverboat Days Parade Float Winners

7.30.2010 - Career Spotlight on Allison Spak

7.1.2010 - Stuart Little

5.27.2010 - Henry & Ramona

3.5.2010 - Wonderland

11.20.2009 - Christmas Shoes

8.28.2009 - 2009 Riverboat Days Parade Float Winners

3.13.2009 - YCTC Reaches Non-Profit Status

2.29.2008 - Beauty & the Beast

12.14.2007 - Christmas with the Kids

RECENT NEWS:

‘Aladdin’
Classic Tale Is Brought To Life By YCTC

By Andrew Atwal
Published: Thursday, February 21, 2013 

Although Tara Gill has an extensive background directing plays in Yankton, “Aladdin And His Wonderful, Magical Lamp” will be her first time heading a show for the Yankton Children’s Theater Company (YCTC).

“The people from the Yankton Children’s Theatre Company asked me to direct a play for them so I thought I’d give it a shot,” Gill said. “I directed ‘Annie’ for Lewis and Clark (Theatre Company) and enjoyed working with the children in that production, so I thought I’d give an all-kids play a shot.”

She added that she is thoroughly enjoying her first production with YCTC, and looks forward to directing more plays with them in the future.

Gill said that when many people think of “Aladdin”, they often think of the Disney version of the production. However, this play is more of an adaptation of the original version of the book.

“Aladdin is a boy who gets into a lot of mischief,” Gill said. “He’s always looking for an adventure, and because of that, it leads him to get into trouble.”

Eventually Aladdin comes across Jamaal, who is an evil magician in search of a genie lamp. Through all of Aladdin’s adventures, he meets Princess Jasmine, who is supposed to get married soon. By the end of the play, he ends up with Jasmine.

“It’s just a cute musical, with a lot of new music,” Gill said. “The play doesn’t have the same songs as the Disney version, and the characters have different names. Although the story is similar, this is a different perspective on it.”

She added that the characters in the play are fun, and each have their own, individual personalities.

The production will be held on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday the weekends of Feb. 28 and March 7. Sunday shows are at 2 p.m., all others are at 7:30 p.m. at the Dakota Theatre.

“The kids we have in this play have worked so hard and it’s truly an all-kids production,” Gill said. “We have a lot of talented kids in this town and the play incorporates dancing and acting. We need a good audience to keep them motivated and keep them in theater. Coming out to the show is a good way to support YCTC and everyone involved with the play.”

Cast List:
Jamaal — Jordan Kuipers
Halima — Olivia Hudson
Scheherazade — Blake Wieseler
Alakazam (monkey) — Gage Becker
Aladdin — Sky Nockels
Chop Chop — Logan Haak
Princess Jasmine — Megan Haselhorst
Sheba — Jordan Walter
Zara — Rachel Wood
Ali Bubba — Sam Carda
Dragon — Daniel Bruegman
Queen Sultane — Haylee Heinemeyer
Sultan — Jacob Smith
Neela — Catherine Perekslis
Mother of Aladdin — Gabby Slowey
Merchant Woman (Jarma) — Tajia Schamp
Merchant Woman (Sahria) — Tori Class
Genie of the Ring — Kaycee Smith
Genie of the Jewels — Kaitlin Paulson
Genie of the Lamp — Anna Carda
Genies-in-Training — Aria Beaudette, Raina Schaeffer, Joselyn Pearson

ROYAL PROCESSION:
Asha — Emily Wieseler
Asad — Jaden Pearson
Hadi — Makayla Palacek
Nadim — Cory Lucht
Nadira — Emma Eichacker
Prema — Anjeliene Schaeffer

TOWNS PEOPLE:
Safia — Jasmine Gill
Thana — Tess Zoss
Ashan — Alyssa Ogstad
Saleem — Carson Heinemeyer
Hema — Cora Johnson

PHOTO CAPTION: Queen Sultane (Haylee Heinemeyer) and the Sultan (Jacob Smith, center) confer with Aladdin (Sky Nockels, left) while Ali Bubba (Sam Carda) looks on in the Yankton Children’s Theatre Company production of “Aladdin And His Wonderful, Magical Lamp,” which will be presented at the Dakota Theatre in downtown Yankton Feb. 28-March 3 and March 7-10. To see or purchase images from this event, visit spotted.yankton.net. (Kelly Hertz/P&D)

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YCTC Seeks New Home

By Andrew Atwal
Published: Thursday, February 21, 2013 

The Yankton Children’s Theatre Company (YCTC) has been rehearing in the old Elks building, in the 400 block of Walnut, for several years, knowing that the facility could be sold at any time.

That time has come.

“The Old Elks building has been our home base for several years, so having to move at this point is certainly a challenge,” said Jill Paulson, president of YCTC. “However, we plan to do everything we can to work towards the continued progress of the organization, despite this bump in the road.”

The YCTC has been informed that the building will be sold after May 1, but they must be out by that date.

Paulson added that since the building has been for sale before, it was always a possibility that they would have to move out at some point.

“On a few occasions, we have reached out, or attempted to reach out, to property owners in the community that we felt might have empty or underutilized buildings that could fit our needs,” Paulson said. “Unfortunately, we have not been able to find, or connect with, the right opportunity at the right time. Through connections on our current board, we do have a few possibilities to explore, but we certainly do not have anything definitive in the works at this time.”

The building is scheduled to be sold at a hectic and busy time for YCTC. They have just completed one of their major annual fundraisers this past weekend, and are still in rehearsals for their largest production of the year, “Aladdin and His Wonderful Magic Lamp.”

Paulson said this will be an issue that YCTC will need to continue to work on as it moves forward.

“If we cannot find a new home, we are prepared to put our large collection of costumes, props and set items in storage temporarily,” she said. “This would not be an ideal situation, but we’re committed to keeping these creative opportunities open and available to all Yankton-area youth and their families.”

In YCTC’s current situation, officials are able to build their sets, prepare costumes and hold all of their initial rehearsals at the old Elks building. However, the building, Paulson says, is not a viable location for productions, so the YCTC must rotate between the three main theatres in town (Dakota Theatre, Summit Center Theater and the Marian Auditorium), based on the needs of the production and availability.

“In an ideal world, YCTC would love to find a home that would allow us to do all the things like rehearsals, set construction, productions in one place,” Paulson said. “This would not necessarily require a ‘traditional’ theater space — we are a creative group of people and might see possibilities in spaces that others might not. This would only increase our ability to enhance and grow our productions and offer new        programming.”

She added that what YCTC needs more than anything is a constant and stable location for storage, set and costume construction, as well as rehearsal space.

The YCTC has been instructed to be out of the building no later than May 1. However, that date may change.

“We have not been informed of a specific date at this point, but it is our understanding that the building will go up for auction sometime after May 1,” Paulson said.

She added that programs like the YCTC are important for the public because often arts-related programs are being cut in schools, so community-based programs for children, like YCTC, are increasingly          important.

Members of the YCTC are encouraging the public to call executive director Allison Spak if they think they have a space, or know someone that does, that might work for the organization.

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